Electrowetting dispensing devices and related methods

Abstract

A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis may comprise positioning liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting. The positioning may comprise aligning the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations. The method may further comprise dispensing the aligned liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the predetermined locations. The dispensing may be via electrowetting.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrowetting system, comprising:
 a device including
 a substantially planar array of independently addressable electrodes embedded in a first substrate, 
 a conducting electrode embedded in a second substrate proximate to the first substrate, the second substrate and first substrate defining a volume, and 
 a first insulating layer separating the addressable electrodes from the volume; and 
 
 a device having a controller programmed to provide electrical signals to the independently addressable electrodes; and 
 a workstation including a thermal cycling station, a sample preparation station, a sample storage station, a titer plate station, a reagent storage, and a wash station. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume is in fluid communication with a droplet reservoir. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the addressable electrodes to draw discrete droplets into the volume from the droplet reservoir. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the addressable electrodes to be independently charged positive or negative relative to a power source in the controller. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the addressable electrodes embedded in the first substrate comprises a network of pathways comprising the addressable electrodes arranged in an array having rows and columns. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the addressable electrodes embedded in the first substrate comprise discrete electrodes arranged to provide a fluidic path. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first insulating layer comprises a hydrophobic surface. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first insulating layer comprises a hydrophilic surface. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the addressable electrodes are configured to alter a wettability of a surface portion of the first insulating layer at a liquid/insulator interface within the volume. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to convert the first insulating layer proximate to a given addressable electrode from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second insulating layer separating the conducting electrode from the volume. 
     
     
       12. An electrowetting device, comprising:
 a first substrate including a first opening; 
 a second substrate proximate to the first substrate to provide a volume, at least one of the first and second substrates including a second opening spaced away from the first opening; 
 at least one pathway comprising an array of electrodes arranged within the second substrate to provide a fluid path; and 
 predetermined locations in fluid communication with the fluid path, wherein the predetermined locations are configured to align with and be in fluid communication with discrete volumes on a second device, and wherein the discrete volumes are configured to receive a fluid from the fluid path. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the first opening comprises an output port and the second opening comprises an input port, and wherein the fluid path is disposed between the input port and the output port. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 12 , wherein movement of discrete droplets along the fluid path is bidirectional. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 12 , further comprising first and second insulating layers to separate the electrodes from the volume. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second insulating layers comprise hydrophobic surfaces. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the electrodes arranged within the second substrate are individually wired to an electrical controller. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least some of the electrodes are configured to receive a positive or a negative charge relative to a power source in the electrical controller. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second openings is configured to provide a liquid into the volume.